Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State has assured on the resuscitation of the totally vandalised health care centre in Ebubu Community.
Executive Secretary of the Local Government, Barr. Joseph Moses Kattey, who gave the assurance, when the Association of Civil Society on Malaria Control, Immunization, and Nutrition (ACOMIN) paid him an advocacy visit in his office, said the state government, through the Rivers State Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) has commenced efforts in refurbishing the health centre in Ebubu.
“Two weeks ago, the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board visited us. I represented the Chairman in that meeting, and the issue of the vandalised Ebubu Health care facility came up.
“In response, the Permanent Secretary of the Board, Dr. Agiriye Harry said they (Board) are willing to fix the facilities,” he said.
Kattey, who represented the Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Obarilomate Ollor, however, said the Permanent Secretary expressed fear over the safety of equipment after the refurbishment of the health centre.
“Their fear was whether the facility will not be vandalised again. We (the LGA) assured him that it will not be vandalised because we have security in place now. It was vandalised in the past because people left the community for security reasons. We assured them that the facility will be protected now.
“So, we are working in synergy with the state government, through the Primary Healthcare Board. We’re willing to do the needful, because if the people don’t have functional health facility, it affects us, because the people are our people.
“If there’s any casualty, it’ll affect us, because we’re the primary authority for the security of our people, at the local level, so we know better.
“We already know about the State of the Primary Healthcare at Ebubu, and we’re working with the Board. The role we have to play is to make sure that nothing goes wrong,” Kattey said.
The Programme Officer of ACOMIN in Rivers State, Mrs. Maryjane Akwaka, had earlier called for the intervention of the LGA in the refurbishment of the Health center in Ebubu, which was bare of equipment.
In his response, Kattey had explained that the Ebubu Health Center, which was well equipped by the State Government, was vandalized years ago in the heat of internal crises warranted by between cult groups, which excalated and led to evacuation of the community, which gave room for the vandalization.
On his part, the State Chairman of ACOMIN, Pastor John Ihua-Maduenyi, called on the LGA leadership to enhance healthcare services at the current makeshift Town Hall used as heath center by providing such essential commodities as regular water and toilet facilities.
“Water is very essential in a health center, in the same way as convenience. Without these commodities, no health facility can function adequately”, he said.
Assuring the ACOMIN delegation that provision of water and convenience will be given priority attention, Barr. Kattey further assured that the LGA boss will do the needful.
ACOMIN had earlier visited the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of Woji Community, Sir P. W. O. Owhor, at the Woji Town Hall, over gaps noticed at the Woji Model Primary Healthcare Center (MPHC).
The Community Based Organization (CBO) working in Woji MPHC, Arinze Maduenyi Foundation (AMF), had identified gaps in power supply, water supply, damaged and rusted tank stand, leaking roof, plumbing work, electrical work, no refrigerator, no functional power generator, spoilt/faulty scale, and poor painting as gaps that required urgent attention.
The CDC boss assured that necessary attention will be given to the filling of the identified gaps by relevant stakeholders in the community.

By: Soibi Max-Alalibo